Silo



Junezs, 1929. WBAYLEY 1,718,519

SILO

' Filed Jan. 26, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l Q4 ooo'ooo oooooo oo ooooooo June 25, 1,929. w, BAYLEY 1,718,519

SILO

Filed Jan. 26, 1926 2 Sheeis-Shqet 2 Patented June 25, 1929.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM BAYLEY, OF SPRIIAINGFIELD, OHIO.

SILO.

Application led 'January 26, 1926. Serial No. 83,886.

My invention relates to silos and more particularly to a sheet metal silo construction affording a vertical succession of closely dis'- poscd access or door opening, affording the approximate advantages of a continuous opening, wlile providing maximum reinforcement against excessive internal pressure, bursting and shearing strain.

In the usual form of sheet metal silo construction, the metal sheets are arranged in horizontal or annular courses, the alternate courses being interrupted to afford spaced access door openings.

This disposition of the access openings, not only separates the openings too far for convenient handling of ensilage but it also weakens the silo structure, causing excessive strain to be imposed upon the alternate courses of wall sheets which pass intermediate the door openings.

In the present invention, there is contemplated a construction wherein the internal pressure or bursting strain will be distributed throughout the succession of circular or horizontal courses of wall sheets, so that each succeeding course will resist its proportionate degree of the strain and stresses, while at the same time permitting the access openings or door openings to be brought quite closely together and separated by merely a comparatively narrow tie member. This is effected by making each and every course continuous throughout the periphery of the silo, but reducing in height and reinforcing nach course to resist buckling adjacent to the door or access opening position, across which the ends of the course are interconnected by a comparatively narrow tie member, which, however, is so designed and proportioned as to resist the stresses and strains equally with the fully dimensioned wall sheets of the course. In the preferred embodiment of the invention as hereinafter described and illustrated in the drawing, each course of wall sheets tapered or beveled at its ends adjacent to the access opening, preferably by folding the corners of the wall sheets backward upon themselves to parallelism to forni convergent extremities which may be reinforced b v additional tapered reinforcementplates. fhe reinforced tapered ends are interconnected by an intermediate tie bar. preferably of channel form, which narrowly separates the vertical succession of access or door openings Y one from the other.

The object of the invention is to simplify the structure as well as the means and mode of assembly, or erection of sheet metal silos, whereby they will not only be cheapened in construction, but will be more efficient in use, of increased strength and durability, capable of affording maximum resistance to bursting and shearing strain and otherwise unlikely to get out of order.

A further object of the invention is to provide a silo construction, having a succession of closely associated access or door openings, without materially weakening the structure and wherein the resistance to internal bursting strain, as well as wind pressure will be uniformly distributed.

A further object of the invent-ion is to provide an improved form of interlocking the successive wall sheets one with another to enable them to resist the shearing strain induced by internal pressure.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved form of reinforcement of sheet metal silos and to provide a silo construction which may be quickly and economically assembled or erected by unskilled laborers. Y

lith the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention colisists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation or their equivalents as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown the preferred, but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention, Figpl is a top plan view of a sheet metal silo, embodying the present invention, the roof or cover being removed. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, of the assembled silo on line Q2 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is an enlarged front elevation of a portion of the Asilo structure showing one of the access or door openings, and tlie interconnected reinforced adjacent ends of succeeding wall sheet courses. Fig. et is a detail plan view. Fig 5 is a detail view illustrating the manner of folding the ends of successive wall sheet courses to afford the tapered reinforced extremities. Figs. 6 and 6a illustrate the reinforcement plate for the interconnected ends of the successive courses or wall sheets. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the transverse interconnection by which successive courses of wall sheets are interconnected intermediate the aecess or door opening. Fig. 8 illustrates in several aspects the hinge block to be attached to the inner face of the tie bar, from which the closures or doors are suspended. Figs. 9 and 10 show mere modifications of the reinforcement bead or flange for the plate shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 11 is a detail view of a modilication wherein only one corner flap of the contiguous ends of wall sheet courses are reversed. Fig. 12 is an elevation of a portion of the structure showing the access opening formed at spaced intervals by the construction shown in detail in Fig. 111. Figs. 13 to 15 illustrate a further modification wherein the access or door opening is formed entirely within the height of a single course of wall sheet.V Fig. 13 is a detail viewl from the interior of the structure, showing the relation of the reversed triangular flap and the reinforcement plate. Fig. 14 is a front elevation illustrating the assembly of vparts as viewed from the exterior. Fig. 15 is a detail sectional plan view of the structure shown in F ig. 14. v

Like parts are indicated by. similar characters of reference throughout the several views,

The present silo construction involves a cylindrical tank like structure, having in one side thereof, a vertical succession of access openings or doors. lThe side walls of the silo comprise a succession of annular or peripheral courses of sheet metal wall sheets, each comprising a plurality of such sheets interconnected to each other, by being riveted or bolted together through outstanding vertically disposed flanges. The wall sheets comprising the successive courses 1-1 are arranged with their vertically flanged joints Q .Qoffset or staggered relative to each other. The plurality of interconnected wall sheets forming each of the successive courses outwardly flanged at their top and bottoni margins as'at 3 for interconnection with the adjacent courses of wall sheets. rEhe interconnection of the successive courses of wall sheets may be effected by bolts or rivets engaging at spaced intervals abutting outstanding' marginal flanges 3.

rhe assembled tank like structure is provided with a foundation or base 16 of concrete or the like. in which the lowermost course 1 of wall sheet is embedded. At opposite sides of the vertically disposed series of access openings 1T the structure is reinforced by struts, located interiorly of the structure and extending from the top vto the bottom thereof, with the lower ends also embedded in the concrete foundation 16.V l/vlhereas the usual and customary practice is to make every other course of wall sheets continuons, throughout the entire periphery of the structure, and toV interrupt the intermediate courses of wall sheets to form spaced door openings one in each alternate course, the

present construction affords opportunityto make substantially as many access or door openings as there are courses of wall sheets, and yet each and every course is continuous throughout the entire periphery of the structure, so that the strains are uniformly distributed among the several courses. To this end the wall sheets of each course adjacent to the access opening 17 or that portion of each course projecting intermediate the vertical spaced angle hars 18 is reduced to tapered reinforced extremities 19 by folding` the corners of the sheets backward upon themselves to paralleisrn, as shownV at 2O in Fig. 5. VThe reversed corner folds of the successive course sheet afford access openings 17, which are substantially rectangular, but arranged with their corners or diagonal access vertically disposed. These tapered ends of the courses reduced and reinforced by the reversed corner laps Q0 are further reinforced by introducing beneath such folded or reversed corners an angular insert plate 2l. as shown in detail in Fig. 6. This reinforcement or insert plate 21 is provided with a. plurality `of rivet or bolt holes registering with those of the folded wall plate, and for further reinforcement is provided with an outstanding bead or flange 22, formed by a reverse bend in the plate 21, adjacent to which is a series of bolts or rivet holes 23, registering with corresponding holes in the vertical angle bar 18, to which the reinforcement plate is attached by bolts or rivets extending through such holes and through the underlying wall sheets of the course. The triangular or tapered extremities of each course of wall sheets project one toward the other intermediate the vertical angle bars 18, and are interconnected by channel shaped tie bars 2&1, as shown in Fig. 7. The tie bars 2l are of such material and so proportioned and designed that the cross sectional area of the tie channels 211 is substantiallyv equal to the cross sectional area of the sheets forming the course of wall sheets interconnected by sucl tiebars, so that the tensile strength of thc tie barand that of the wall sheet is substantially equalized. This tie bar is riveted or bolted `to the reinforced tapered extremities of the course of sheets. The construction is such that although the transverse tie channels 24 occupy but very small space intermediate the successive access openings 17. they will resist the internal pressure or bursting strain equally with the succession of wall sheets forming the course. rlhus each and every course of wall sheets is interconnected throughout the entire periphery of the struc-ture and equal in strength and resistance to every other course. The front panel of the structure, including the access openings and reinforced interconw nected extremities of successive portions may be assembled at the factory complete, and the remaining wall sheets of each course inter- COHRSCG thereto by the vertical joints 2Q.

However.y if desired, the tic channels 21 may be riveted or otherwise secured at one end to one ofthe reduced tapered reinforced cxtremity of the course, while the other end is left free for attachment by bolting or other means at the time of erection of the structure. The reinforced tapered ends of the successive courscsare of triple thickness, due to the reversal of the corners of the sheet, and the insertion of the reinforcement plate 21. Secured to the interior face of each of the channel tie hars 2st, int-.lerincdiate the reinforced ends of the sheet, are hinged bloclzs 25, shown in detail in Fig. S. The ends of these blocks are indented to receive the angles of the reinforced terminal extensions of the course sheets. Hinged or otherwise connected to these blocks 25 are closure doors 26, provided with buttons or pivoted fingers 27. which may be turned to locking position over the angular margin of the preceding course, of wall sheets. Each closure door 26 upon release of the button 27 may be turned inwardly and upwardly, or may be entirely removed by withdrawing the pintle pin connecting such door to the hinge block 25. This construetion enables the access openings to be placed sufliciently close together that it is not necessary to lift the ensilage any appreciable eX- tent in removing it from the silo, as is the case when the doors are located only in alternate courses of wall sheets, as shown in Fig. 21. The present construction affords the advantages of a substantially cont-inuous access opening, to which the only interruptions are the comparatively narrow transverse tie channels 24. Wlhile but one vertical series of doors has been illustrated. it is obvious that additional access openings may be provided at any desired points without weakening the structure. At the same time, the structure possesses substantially the saine resistance to bursting strain or internal pressure as it would if the successive courses of wall sheets were entirely continuous without provision of access openings.

lhile but one series of access openings or doors have been shown in the drawing. it will be understood that additional access openings may be provided at different points throughout the periphery of the silo wherever desired. The present construction is such that duplication of access or door openings does not reduce the strength or resistance of the silo wall. "hile if desired, the access openings may be closely spaced, as illustrated in the drawings, to afford substantially continuous openings, it will be understood that such construction is not essential, but one or more openings of such succession may be omitted by continuing' thecourse of wall sheets intermediate successive openings. The transverse reinforcement or tie bars are necessitated only where doors or access opening are desired.

To form such spaced access or door openings, instead of reverse'ly folding both of the corners of contiguous ends of the course sheet as heretofore described., the lower corner only of the sheet forming one course and the upper corners only of the sheet forming the adjacent course may be reversely folded as shown at 23. This construction leaves the course sheets continuous throughout half their height so that they are better able to withstand the tension strain. The reverse corner flap 28 shown in Fig. 11 form V-shaped indentations in the adjacent courses of wall sheets 3, which when arranged `in registry a.; shown in Fig. 12 form the access openings 17. Transverse tie bars or reinforcement bars 21 preferably of channel shape, but which may be merely angle irons are disposed horizontally above and below such access opening 17, the ends of the bars being connected by bolts or rivets with the vertical struts or studding bars 18 interior-ly of the structure at each side of the opening.

As a further modification of this construction, instead of reversing or folding haekwardly to parallelism the corners of the wall sheet to afford the access opening, such wall sheets may be horizontally split as indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 13, and the contiguous corners or flaps 29 formed thereby may be folded outwardly into parallelism With the main portion of the wall sheet 3 to afford the V-shaped indentation, which registering with a like indentation in the contiguous endof the adjacent wall sheets forming the same course, will afford the necessary access opening. A reinforcement plate 21 is inserted beneath the reverse corner-flaps of sheets forming successive courses, as shown at thc bottom in 17. This reinforcement plate 21 thus overlaps the joint between successive courses of wall sheets 3, and has operative coupling engagement with the sheets of both courses. Transverse angle bars 30 are provided above and below the access openings or doors formed by such reverse triangular flaps 29. These angle bars 30 abut upon the outstanding flanges 3-3 forming the horizontal joints between successive courses and are connected by rivets or bolts to the vertical struts or studding bars 18, located interiorly of the structure at opposite sides of the access opening. `This construction and arrangement of parts is clearly shown in Figs. 14 and 15. In addition to being connected to the angle bar struts or studding 18 and to the horizontal flanges of the wall sheets, such tie bars or reinforcement angles 30 are connected by rivets or bolts with the inserted triangular reinforcement plates 21 and their overlying Wall sheet flaps 29. This affords a neat appearing construction, which will have maximum strength to resist the tension or bursting strain. Such reinforcement features indeed render the access opening panel of the structure of greater resistance and strength than the continuous portions of the courses ot' Wall sheets.

Cross reference is inade to co-pending application, Serial No. 83,887 tiled of even date herewith.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device ot the character described, possessing the particular features of advantage betere enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its 'lier-ni, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts Without departing` from the principle involved or sacrificing any et its advantages.

lVhile in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the speciiic details shown7 but that the means and construct-ion herein disclosed comprises the preferred iforin ol several modes ot putting the invention into efl'ect and the invention is, therefore, claimed in an)` ot' its forms or modifications Within the legitimate and valid scope'oi the appendet claims.

Having thus described my invention, l

claim: v

l. In a silo or like construction, a cylindrical tank like structure, comprising a vertical succession ot horizontal courses of interconnected Wall sheets, said structure having` a vertical succession of access openings, the adjacent ends of each succeeding course of Wall sheets being interconnected intermediate the access openings.

2. In a silo or like construction, a cylindricaltank like structure, comprising a vertical succession of horizontal coursesot interconnected Wall sheets, said structure having; a vertical succession ot' access openings, said openings being` positioned in overlapping relation ivith succeeding courses ot Wall sheets, whereby each access opening extends partially into the zone ot one course and partiallv into the zone of the adjacent course ot Wall Y sheets.

3. In a silo or like construction, a cylindrical tank like structure, comprisinga vertical succession of horizontal courses oit in- .'terconnected Wall sheets, said structure havsuccession ot access openingsbetween the tapered extremities of successive Wall sheet courses. y

6. In a silo or like construction, a cylindrical tank like structure, including a vertical succession ot' horizontal courses of Wall sheets having a vertical series et access openings, the Wall sheets of each course adjacent to said openings being reduced in height and medially connected to forni said openings.

7. ln a silo or like construction, a tank like structure of sl Vect metal or the like, a pair of vertical spaced struts secured to the interior ot theivall of' such structure, and tivo series et suliistantially 'tf-shaped Wall extensions proj ccting,` in op positely arranged relation intermediate the struts, the opposite extensions of therspective serios having their apices interconnected, thereby dividing` the space intermediate the struts into a succeesion ot access openings. i

8. In a silo or the like, a tank-like structure, including; a panel comprising a succession of pairs of oppositely disposed tapered Wall sections havinej the spices of the sections oi: each pair interconnected to torni a succession of intermediate access openings, and vertical traine members connecting the successive pairs ot ivall sections at opposite sides ot the access openings.

S). ln a silo or the like, a tank like structure including a panel comprising a succession oi pairs ot substantially V-shaped Wall sections, the sections of each pair being reversell,v disposed and interconnected at their apices to afford intermediate access openings.

l0. In a silo or the like, a tank like structure, comprising` a succession of horizontally7 disposed courses ot Wall sections including` a vertical succession of interconnected revers l, disposed substantially V-shaped extensions of each course of Wall sections ailordingtherebetween. a succession ot closely spaced access openings.

ll. In a silo or thelike. a tank like structure, comprising a succession ot horizontally disposed courses et ivall sections, including a vertical snccession et interconnected reversely disposed substantially yl-shaped eittensions ot cach courseot ivall sections affording therebewteeu a succession of closely spaced access openings, said entensions being Jformed by folding` the corners of Wall sections Yforming' said courses upon-themselves to substantially parallelism to allord a reiniiorced tapered extension ot multiple thickness. Y

l2. ln silo or the like, a tank like structure comprisingay succession of horizontally disposed courses of Wall sections including,` a vertical succession of interconnected reversel-y disposed substantially V-shaped eX- tensions-ot each course of Wall sections affo-rdingl therebetween a succession of closely spaced access openi.ngs,and similarly shaped llO reinforcement plates overlying the course extensions.

13. In a silo or the like, a tank like structure comprising a. succession of horizontally disposed courses of Wall sections including a vertical succession of interconnected reversely disposed substantially V-shaped extensions of each course of Wall sections affording therebetween a succession of closely spaced access openings, pockets formed in said extensions by reversely bending portions of said course extensions upon themselves, and reinforcement plates engaged Within the pockets thus formed.

14. In a silo or the like, a tank like structure comprising a succession of horizontally disposed wall courses, the successive courses having therein registering portions of reduced height to form intermediate access openings, reinforcement plates attached to said courses at opposite sides of said access openings and tie bars transversely connecting such reinforced portions of the successive courses.

15. In a construction of the character described, a course of Wall sheets, the corners of adjacent sheets being reversely bent upon themselves to form two substantially V- shaped pockets, correspondingly shaped reinforcement plates in said pocket-s, transverse tie members connecting said reinforced pockets one to the other into a continuous annular body, such courses being superposed, one upon anotherl to form a tank like structure, having a vertical succession of access openings formed intermediate said folded ends.

16. In a silo orthe like, a tank like structure comprising a succession of horizontally disposed wall courses, a pair of vertically disposed spaced angle bars secured to the interior faces of said Wall courses, and reduced extensions of the successive Wall courses extending across the intervening space between said angle bars interconnecting the angle bars one with the other and connecting the successive courses into continuous annular sections, said reduced connecting extensions forming intermediate access openings to the interior of the structure.

17. In a silo or the like, a tank like strueture comprising a succession of horizontally disposed Wall courses, each course forming a continuous annular band, each course having formed therein oppositely disposed marginal indentations registering With like marginal indentations of succeeding courses to form intermediate access openings.

18. In a silo or the like, a tank like structure comprising a succession of horizontally disposed Wall courses, each course forming a continuous annular band, certain courses having' formed therein oppositely disposed marginal indentations registering With like marginal indentations of succeeding courses to form intermediate access openings, and

means for reinforcing the indented portions of the Wall courses to equalize the resistance of the course to bursting strains.

19. In a silo or the like, a tank like structure comprising a succession of horizontally disposed Wall courses, each course forming a continuous annular band, certain courses having formed therein oppositely disposed marginal indentations registering With like marginal indentations of succeeding courses to form intermediate access openings, said indentations being formed by reversely folding iaps of the Wall course material upon itself to form a reinforced section of reduced height.

20. In a silo or the like, a tank like structure comprising a succession of horizontally disposed Wall courses, each course forming a continuous annular band, certain courses having formed therein oppositely disposed marginal indentations registering with like marginal indentations of succeedlng courses to form intermediate access openings, vertically disposed angle bar struts secured to the Wall courses at opposite sides of the registering indentations, and reinforcement means interconnecting said struts intermediate the access openings.

21. In a silo or like structure having sheet material Walls, contiguous triangular flaps Of the wall sheet material bent reversely into substantially parallelism with the Wall sheets to leave between such reversed iaps of material, a polygonal access opening, the margins of Which will be formed by the folds of such reversed flaps.

22. Reinforcement means for sheet material walls of silos and the like contiguous to access openings, including a series of sector like tongues of the material displaced to provide the opening, such tongues being bent reversely into substantially parallelism with the adjacent portions of the walls and reinforcing plates inserted within the pockets formed by the reverse] y bent tongues.

In a silo construction or the like, having sheet material Walls, a group of reversely bent angular' iaps of Wall material surrminding an access opening in the walls of the structure, and forming reinforced margins about said opening.

24. In a silo construction or the like, having sheet material Walls, a group of reversely bent angular flaps of Wall material surrounding an access opening in the Wall of the structure and forming reinforced margins about said opening, and reinforcement plates inserted beneath the reversely bent angular flaps.

25. In a silo construction or the like, having sheet material Walls, a group of reversely bent angular flaps of Wall material surrounding an access opening in the Wall of the structure and forming reinforced margins about said opening, and reinforcement plates inserted beneath the reversely bent flaps, the oppositely disposed plates being interconnected.

26. In a silo construction or the like, a tank like structure, comprising a succession of horizontal courses ot sheet Wall material, certain courses having therein substantially V- shaped notches formed by bending reversely into substantial parallelism with the Wall sheets angular flaps of the Wall sheet material, the V-shaped notch of one course registering with that ot a succeeding course to form an access opening to said structure.

27. In a silo construction or the like, a tank like structure having side Walls formed from joined sections of sheet material certain con" tiguous sections of such sheet material having substantially V-shaped registering notches formed therein by bending reversely into parallelism With the sections of Wall material to 'form by said registering notches, an access opening to said structure.

, 28. In a silo construction or the like, a tank like structure, having side Walls formed from joined sections ofsheet material, certain contiguous sections having substantially V- shaped registering notches formed therein to afford intermediate access openings to :the interior of the structure.

29. In a construction of the character described, va Wall for silos and the like, a pair ot' adjacently disposed triangular' flaps formed by reversely bending portions ot the silo Wall material `to parallelism, and a reinforcement plate common to two of said reversed flaps and extending Within the pocket formed thereby beneath said flaps.

30. In a construction of the character described, a Wal-l for silos including interconnected succeeding` sections ot sheet material, contiguous tiaps formed by roverscly .bending to parallelism sportions of the respective succeeding sections and a reinforcement plate extending across .the lioint between the sections and overlappin both sections, and projecting beneath the reversely bent tia-ps ot both xvall sections, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 5th day of January, A. D. 1926.

VVIILLIAM BAYLEY. 

